voice of “Survivor yell” in the theme song sues CBS, composer for pay.

by Andy Dehnart11 Mar. 2003 | 7:30 am

voice of “Survivor yell” in the theme song sues CBS, composer for pay. The theme song that begins each episode of Survivor changes slightly each season, but always includes the signature yell–the part where a guy goes, “oh-ohhhhhhh!” The voice belongs to Kim Strauss, and he’s suing CBS, Survivor productions, and the song’s composer David Vanacore for compensatory and punitive damages, saying he wasn’t paid for his work. According to Television Week, “Strauss said he recorded vocal work, including the “Survivor Yell,” for a music demo for the show and was told that he would be asked to record a final version of the songs and be paid at least union scale if the music was chosen by Survivor producers.” He also wants money from the sale of products like the official soundtrack and the first-season DVD.

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Andy Dehnart is a journalist who has covered reality television for more than 15 years and created reality blurred in 2000. A member of the Television Critics Association, his writing and criticism about television, culture, and media has appeared on NPR and in Playboy, Buzzfeed, and many other publications. Andy, 37, also directs the journalism program at Stetson University in Florida, where he teaches creative nonfiction and journalism. He has an M.F.A. in nonfiction writing and literature from Bennington College. More about reality blurred and Andy.

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